These towns also happen to be the district capitals of its erstwhile territories.

Prior to 2000 the Province had six districts, namely Diamandtveld where Kimberley is located, Kalahari of which Kuruman was the capital, the lower Orange with Upington as its commercial and administrative centre, Namaqualand with Springbok as capital, Hamtam with Calvinia and Upper Karoo with De Aar as the political and commercial capital.

Most towns of the Northern Cape province have their origins rooted in either the region's colonial past having been strategic military or dominion outposts, its mineral largesse such as with the founding of O'Kiep where copper is still mined to an extent or pastoral fortunes as with Upington itself which lies along the fertile banks of the Orange River.